Match report
Defending champion Alcaraz seals Buenos Aires spot in SF
The top player will then play Jarry or Etcheverry
February 16, 2024
Carlos Alcaraz advances to the semifinals of the IEB+ Argentina Open.
By ATP staff
Top seed Carlos Alcaraz withstood a tough opening set from Andrea Vavassori before finding his best form in the second, beating the Italian 7-6(1), 6-1 to reach the semi-finals of the IEB+ Argentina Open, where he is. now two wins away from a successful title defense.
The world No.2 was locked in an hour-long first set before producing a clean tiebreak, jumping out to a 6/0 lead and two points later taking a one-set advantage. The Spaniard built on his momentum, breaking Vavasori’s serve in the first two service games of the second set before sealing a place in the semi-finals after one hour and 40 minutes.
“I think in the first set he played at such a high level,” Alcaraz said of Vavasori. “It was very difficult to return his serve and the difficult conditions with the wind. It was difficult. But I think I played better in the second set. I think his level dropped a little bit, with his serve as well and I put a few returns in, I got the my opportunities and I think that was the difference.”
Playing just his second match since his Australian Open quarter-final appearance, Alcaraz executed a variety of tactics, often moving forward and deftly applying drop shots to dispatch the Italian qualifier. Two-time major champion Alcaraz won 71 percent of his second serve points, compared to 48 percent for Vavasori to extend his Buenos Aires winning streak to six.
Alcaraz will face third seed Nicolas Jarry or sixth seed Tomas Martin Etcheverry in the last four.
Vavasori, 28, was aiming for his first tour-level semifinal appearance in just his second match against a Top 10 player. He is up to No. 137 on the Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings, nine places shy of a career-high.
In the bottom half of the draw, the dream weeks continued for home favorites Federico Coria and Facundo Diaz Acosta. The 31-year-old Coria overcame fifth seed Sebastian Baez 6-1, 6-4, while wildcard Diaz Acosta downed Dusan Lajovic 6-4, 6-3.
Coria will be looking for revenge against Diaz Acosta in the semi-finals after the 23-year-old defeated him in the first round of Buenos Aires last year in their lone Lexus ATPHead2Head meeting.
Saturday’s bout will mark Diaz Acosta’s first round-robin semifinal and Coria’s sixth.